The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-11-30
HOW THE MONEY WAS LOST
AND FOUND.
BY JULIA A. SABINE.

DO let me go, too pleaded little
Reuben Davis Please, Brother Ma
than"
"No; can't he bothered with you, y
returned Nathan. I" don't want any
babies round where | am"
/" Babies, indeed g said Reuben, indig-
nantly. As if | were baby You
ought to be ashamed to say such thing,
Brother Nathan. You know | chopped
wood all last winter
Wood? Ho, no ~ answered Nathan,
with an irritating laugh. More boot
and toes than wood, ! should imag-
inc"
At this taunt, which alluded to a mis-
hap of Reuben's of which he was not a
little ashamed, the littlo fellow turned
quickly away, and walked along the foot
path which led to his home.
1t was a raw, eheerless day in early
spring, nearly ninety years ago. -Four
boys were sitting on huge log, which
lay upon the ground just at the point
where the foot-path to the Davis farm
met the main road
They had daring scheme in view,
promising great fun, in which little Reu-
ben longe to join but stern fate, in the
person of his brother Nathan. forbade.
Z" But then" as Moses Davis often said,
q Nate might as well give up first AS last,
for, when Reub had made up his mind
to do anything, he allus did il, some way
or MOTHER
Why don't you let him go, Mater
asked Hiram Cole, short, fat boy, with
beady black eyes.
cause amt min ter" answered
Nathan.
" He won't do mite of harm," said
Josiah Varnum. For my part, I'd kinder
like to have him along. He's allus 30
good natured."
We'll, if he goes | won't, that's all, y
said Nathan, and the boys said no more ;
but Moses thought that, when the time to
go came, neither Nathan nor Reuben
would stay behind.
There was an old cabin standing by
itself on hill, perhaps mile from where
the boys were sitting, which had long
had the reputation OF being haunted.
The man who built it had been taken
prisoner by the Indians. His end was
never known. His wife, through grief
and anxiety, lost her reason. She lived
for many years, harmless lunatic, wan
dering about the country, living upon
what people chose to give her, until, one
cold winter morning, she was found dead
frozen to death--upon snow-drift be-
fore her door.
After that, no one ever lived in the
cabin. The door had fallen from its hin
ges. The windows had not whole pane
remaining in the sashes The loneliness
for the cabin stood ON the edge of a
thick forest-and its ruined condition
were enough to give it bad name and
there was not a boy in the vicinity who
would Willingly pass by it alone, especial
ly after nightfalI.
There had been more said about the
cabin than usual lately. Some boys,
passing by on their way from a sugaring
Off 7" late at night saw, or said they SAW, a
strange blue light issuing from the win
dows, and heard means and clanking of
chains.
Nathan Davis was fired with sudden
desire to solve the mystery and he ea-
silly persuaded his brother, Moses, Hiram
Cole, and 'Siah Varnum to spend night
with him in the haunted cabin. The
boys had carried firewood and kindling
and pineknots TO the door, in order that
they might have fire and light and they
had supply of butternuts to crack, corn
to pop, and even few cakes of maple
sugar for treat, while waiting for the
ghost to appear.
They felt little doubtful of obtaining
the approval of their parents, and had
concluded TO dispense with it,
we will slip out after the folks are
asleep" said Nathan and then, if we
don't find anything, nobody need be
any the wiser, and, if we do find out
suthin', they'll be so glad they won't
care"
Where shall we meetY' asked Hi
ram?7
Here's as good as any place" answer
ed Nathan.
Time to go home now and do the
chores yawned Josiah. After all, I'd
most as soon stay at home and go to
bed
You always were sleepy-head," re-
urned Nathan Hadn't you better ask
your marin to get y,u a cradle !"
And then the boys separated and